New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-15
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
WHAT SOME CREDITORS WOULD LIKE

A CORRESPONDENT ASKS WHY THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD Not PAY ITS PAST DUE DEBTS.
TO the Editor Of The 1ribume.
SIR: The Treasury Is taking In more money every
month than has occasion pay out for its expenses and
interest; AMI OF getting rid o. the
to he devised by the ADMINISTRATION except tho stupid
one Of clng In bonll rraing at four and oneha aud
four per cent c,ckle is mads II the Govern
succeeds in getting tho former at pre.ium OF eight
per cent ami the latter ut twenty-five, thus paying
bounty to boadholders who have alrs idy gained
enormnusly. All this time the Nation owes from ffty
10 one hundred million. to deserving creditors. which 1t
does not pay. try debts. too for want of which old
men and women and orphan children suffering.
Why is not o. this surplus In the Treasury applied
10 the long past due debts
FIRST There arc tho French spoia.ion claims
admitted 10 be due to individuals Will this payment
wait three-quarers o. longer until the claims
have all been bought up by claim agents
Next, there tho Alabama clams-this by thet
way is British money simply hold in trust. Bu
because Of dispute whether it shall be paid to the
insured shippers the insurance companies it paid TO
neither. Why not divide itl
The Court OF Claims has its docket CLAIMS against
the Treasury for ut least twenty millions for services
perforated under contract bat not paid for Why not
the Court sitting extra time to settle these claims!
Before the respective Committees Claims there
wcnty millions more mostly fraudulent-but why are
rot tho honest ones paid and interest allowed for tue
Period deferred
There pending before tho Departments twenty
millions more awaiting the very clsurely action o tue
succession OF iitOrsn the Navy for SHIPS not iuy
paid for In the Interior patents Tor lands PAD for
but not i.surd: the Government should either give back
IN money until the patent Is rea y or get ready or
allow interest for the delay IN the Post One. Depart
meat Tor mail carving. and more especially FOR ocean
service to sthrr than European countries by American
vessels. Would fair compensation TO our snip
bull er' he better than paving bonus to bonlhoters
la the War Department for supplies and portation
long since furnished b not Yet paid for. In the
Treasury for refund of duties, AMI hundred other
delayed accounts; and az OIL through the list.
The supreme Court has decided that the Government
mn pay for its ransp0rlatiOn over nOnated roads IN
cash the 10 ordinary carriers. Bat the Union and
Central Pacific Companies have over S2O)OooD such
money due them which is pail nor Is II even ere ted
asaisst their dcb 20 mature ton years hence Why are
they no: plil what il due AMI aW ariedf
Again. there IS in the Treasury fund belonging IN
these railway companies aggreg1tlng SooODOpO,
invested In Government bonds earning abont Two aud
on half per cent Why SHOULD not these bonds be sold
and nr proceeds be loaned out, on satisfactory
security, 10 tao highest b:dierl viii not the
commission recently appointed make recommendation
10 this effect to abolish the fund aud accept semi
annu,, filed payment instead extending over period
long enough the subsidy debt without tcquir-
ing 90 rcsoct tp higher rate, ~ friegnt
I'm snort ihsrr are a hundred ways Of getting the
Treasury surplus the hands OF the people into the
hand, OF these whom belongs. ami has long been duo
and PAYABLE les that Of huYiug up bonds from bond
holders. who part with them reluctantly aud only at
heavy ransom. CITIZEN.
NrW lOrk, oct. - l~-1.